The Labor enquirer., 1887-10-22

Of selfish obligations.
We aflirm that We alone are the party Of
true Amsficsnism, combining honest
democracy and progressive republicanism
in fact. intead OF in nsme alone.
Usi'ed Labsr-Nsw Yerh, Sept. -, 1855.
The Delegates Of the Trade and Labor
Organisations Of New York in conference
assembled make this declaration:
/. Holding that the corruptions Of
government and the impoverishment of
labor result from neglect of the self-evi-
dent truths proclaimed by the founders Of
this Republic that all men are created
equal and are endowed by their Creator
with unalienable rights, We aim at the
abolition Of the system which compels
men TO pay their fellow-creatures for the
use Of Gods gifts to all, and permits mo-
nopolizers TO deprive labor Of natural op-
portunities for employment, thus filing
the land with tramps and paupers and
bringing about an unnatural competi-
tion which tends to reduce wages TO star
vation rates and to make the wealth pro-
ducer the industrial slave of those who
grow rich by his toll.
II. Holding, moreover, that the advan-
tages arising from social growth and i'm
pr0vement belong to society at large, we
aim at the abolition Of the system which
makes such benefcent inventions as the
railroad and telegraph means for the
oppression Of the people and the aggran-
dizement of an aristocracy of wealth and
power. We declare the true purpose Of
government to be the maintenance of
that sacred right Of property which gives
to every one opportunity to employ his
labor and security that he shall enjoy its
fruits; to prevent the strong from op-
pressing the weak and the unscrupulous
from robbing the honest; and to do for
the equal benefit of all such things as can
be better done by organized society than
by individuals; and we aim at the aboli-
tion Of all laws which give to any class of
citizens advantages, either judicial, fnan-
cial, industrial or political, that are not
equally shared by all others.
III. We further declare that the people
of New York City should have full con-
troll Of their own local affairs, that the
practice Of drawing grand jurors from
one class should cease, and the require
ment Of a property qualification for trial
jurors should be abolished that the pro-
cedure of our courts should be so simpli-
fed and reformed that the rich shall have
no advantage over the poor; that the
ofiicious intermeddling of the police with
peaceful assemblages should be stopped;
that the laws for the safety and sanitary
inspection of buildings should be en-
forced; that in public work the direct en-
ployment of labor should be preferred to
the system which gives contractors op-
portunity TO defraud the city while grind
ing their workmen, and that in public EN-.
ployment equal pay should be accorded
to equal work, without distinction Of sex.
w. We declare the crowding Of so
many Of our people into narrow tene-
ments at enormous rents, while half of the
city is yet unbuilt upon, to be scandal
ous evil; and that 10 remedy this state Of
things all taxes on buildings and improve
ments should be abolished, SO that no fine
shall be put upon the employment of
labor in increasing living accommoda-
tions, and that taxes should be levied on
land irrespective Of improvements, so
that those who are now holding land va
cant shall be compelled either to build on
it themselves or give up the land to those
who will.
v. We declare furthermore that the
enormous value which the presence Of a
million and half Of people gives TO the
land Of this city, belongs properly to the
whole community; that it should not 60
to the enrichment Of individuals and cor
porations, but should be taken in taxation
and applied to the improvement and
identifying Of the city, to the promotion
Of the health, comfort education and
recreation of its people, and to the pro-
viding Of means Of transit commensurate
with the needs Of great metropolis. We
also declare that existing means of transit
should not be left in the hands of corpor-
ations, which. while gaining enormous
profits from the growth Of population,
oppress their employees and provoke
strikes that interrupt travel and imperil
the public peace, that should by lawful
process be assumed by the city and oper.
ated for public benefit.
vi. To clear the way for such reforms
as are impossible without it We favor q
constitutional convention, and since the
ballot is the only method BY which in our
Republic the redress Of political and social
grievances is 70 be songht, we especially
call for such changes in our elective
methods as shall lessen the need Of money
in elections, discourage bribery, and pre-
vent intimidation.
VII. And since in the coming most
important municipal election independent
political action affords the only hope of
exposing and breaking up the extortion
and peculation by which standing army
Of professional politicians corrupt the
people whom they plumber, we call on all
citizens Who desire honest government TO
Join "a in an effort TO secure it, and 70
show for once that the will Of the people